Penn Brewery

When the first Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week kicked off in 2012, there were about five craft breweries in Pittsburgh, including Penn Brewery, which planned the inaugural celebration.

Now, as the 2017 celebration prepares to kick off, there are closer to 35 breweries in the region. Eighteen of them are participating in the week-long celebration this year – the largest number so far. Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week Board President Brian Meyer said that’s fitting.

I scream, you scream, Pittsburghers scream for ice cream. Summer is prime time for everybody’s favorite treat. WESA’s Sarah and Yelp Pittsburgh’s Rachel have taken on the daunting task of exploring, researching and taste-testing Pittsburgh’s favorite ice cream joints for your eating needs. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.

Full of ideas for refreshing summer drinks, Hal B. Klein suggests some of his favorite brews and beer cocktails including a number of drinks foreign to most Pittsburghers. What makes for a good brew this season? For beer lovers, Klein recommends lagers such as the Brooklyn Lager or lagers brewed nearby at Penn Brewery. Lagers are unique because they are fermented at a lower temperature, are lighter in alcohol and tend to be more crisp and refreshing. But wheat beers, such as those found at East End Brewery, also provide a fun summer flavor, especially when adding a slice of orange or other fruit.